194 BATRACHIAKS. 



long, spotted or barred with black; costal folds 13; large. 

 Maine to Minn, and S., abounding in the caves of Ky. 

 and Ind. 



3. S. ruber, (Daudin) Gray, Red TRiTOisr. Vermil- 

 ion red, with black or brown spots; head wide; costal 

 folds 15 or 16; large; variable. Maine to Nebraska and 

 S. {Pseudotriton^ Baird.) 



4. GYRINOPHILUS, Cope. Purple Salamanders. 



1. G. porphyriiicus, (Green) Cope. Purple Sala- 

 mander. Uniform purplish gray above; head broad; 

 tail rounded at base, not finned; large; aquatic. Alle- 

 gany Mountains, N. E. and S. [/iS)9e^e?pes sahnonea (Stor.) 

 Gray.] " The only one of our Eastern Salamanders 

 which attempts self defense. It snaps fiercely but harm- 

 lessly and throws its body into contortions in terror." 

 (Cope?) 



FAMILY LXXXIV.— AMBLYSTOMID^":. 



{The Ambly stomas.) 



Vertebrae amphicoelian ; carpus and tarsus ossified; 

 digits 4-5, without webbing; tongue thick; size gener- 

 ally large and color dark. Genus one, species nineteen; 

 probably all American, and very abundant in the South- 

 ern and Western parts of the U. S. The larvae which 

 reach a large size, and even breed before the gills are 

 absorbed, have long been considered as forming a sej^ar- 

 ate genus, Siredon^ supposed to be allied to Necturus. 



1. AMBLYSTOMA, Tschudi. Big Salamanders. 



* Folds of tongue radiating from behind; costal folds 10 to 12; 

 fourth toe with 4 phalanges. 



f Costal grooves 10. 



1. A. iaipoideum, (Holbr.) Gray. Mole Salamander. 



